Excursion to the castle Karlstejn
Karlštejn is one of the most famous Czech fortified castles and occupies a special position among the castles of the Czech Republic. This is due, among other things, to the fact that Karlstejn was originally created not just as one of the royal residences, but also as a place where the crown jewels of the kings of the Czech Republic were kept.
According to eZhoushan Dictionary, Karlštejn was founded by the most famous Czech king and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles IV of Luxembourg, who is still often called the “father of the fatherland” in the Czech Republic. The construction of the fortress began in 1348, and already in 1355 Karlštejn was ready to receive the king and his large retinue. Even then, one of the dominants of the fortress, the Big Tower, was built, and the decoration of one of the most remarkable rooms, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, whose walls were richly decorated with Gothic paintings and semi-precious stones, was completed. It was in this chapel that one of the most valuable European crowns, the crown of the Holy Roman Empire, was placed in storage in the 14th century.
During the tour, you will see a series of representative and private premises that will bring you closer to understanding the features of life and life of high-ranking rulers of the fortress in the XIV-XV centuries. Some of the interior decoration items are authentic, preserved in Karlštejn collections from the 15th century. In the Mariana Tower you will see copies of the crown jewels once kept in Karlštejn.
Excursion to the castle Konopiste
An excursion to Konopiste Castle will not only give you the opportunity to see one of the most remarkable castles in the Czech Republic, but also introduce you to the extraordinary life and tragic love story of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand d’Este.
The first information about the Gothic fortress standing on the site of today’s castle dates back to the beginning of the 13th century. Over the following centuries, the fortress was repeatedly rebuilt, its external and internal appearance changed. At the end of the 19th century, Konopiste was acquired by Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand and, until his tragic death in Sarajevo in 1914, the castle remained his main residence and favorite refuge from the intrigues of the Viennese court. The castle was overhauled in the style of romanticism and Franz Ferdinand gradually filled his home with unique collections of paintings, works of art, ancient weapons.
During a tour of the castle, you will see the representative rooms of the castle, many of which still retain traces of the Baroque style in their decoration. You will also get acquainted with the biography of the last owner of Konopiste, learn about his life in the castle. In addition, you will hear exciting details of the relationship between Franz Ferdinand and his Morganist wife Zofia Hotkow – their love story is the most romantic love story of the 19th century.
Excursion to the castle Krzyvoklad
Křivoklad, one of the oldest castles in the Czech Republic, is a late Gothic fortress located in the picturesque valley of the Berounka River. With its historical significance, artistic and architectural values, as well as the quality of its collections, Křivoklad is truly a diamond in the necklace of Czech Gothic castles.
The first mention of Křivoklad dates back to the 12th century. Already at that time it was one of the favorite hunting residences of the Czech kings from the Přemyslid dynasty. Extensive building activity took place in Křivoklad at the end of the 15th century during the reign of the Czech king Vladislav Jagiellonian. It was then that Křivoklad turned into one of the most magnificent royal residences in Central Europe. From the end of the 16th century, Křivoklad was used primarily as a prison for especially dangerous political prisoners.
During a tour of the castle, you will see historical interiors, including the castle chapel, the knight’s and royal halls. Of great interest is the exposition dedicated to the life in Křivoklad of the heir to the Austrian throne, Ferdinand of Tyrol, and his secret wife, Philippine Welser. An indelible impression is also left by visiting the ancient casemates, the torture chamber, as well as the gladior tower.
Excursion to the GLASS FACTORY IN NIZHBOR
One of the traditional industries in the Czech Republic is the production of glass and crystal. The secrets of the production of the famous Bohemian glass are among the Czech national treasures. You can touch this ancient culture and learn a lot about glass production by visiting the Rukl glass factory located in the city of Nizhbor.
The Ryukl factory is owned by the Ryukl family, whose ancestors founded the business in the 18th century. Until today, master glassblowers and master cutters adhere to the technologies and traditions of their ancestors in their work. The excellent quality of their work leads to the fact that celebrities from all over the world are buyers of products with the Rukl brand. In addition to a large number of art and sports stars, the English royal house also acted as a customer of the factory in Nizhbor several times.
During the tour, you will see the entire cycle of glass production – glass melting, glass blowing, which is done only by hand, and, finally, the most difficult labor-intensive process of cutting a glass product, as a result of which the world-famous and famous Czech crystal is produced.
Excursion to the city of KUTNA HORA
The city of Kutna Hora is famous for its glorious history of silver mining and silver coinage. The rich history of the city and preserved unique monuments of history and architecture make this city a world cultural heritage. The great cultural value of the city led to the inclusion of its historical core in the list of objects under the protection of UNESCO.
The city of Kutná Hora has played a huge role in the history of the development of the Czech state. Since the 13th century, thanks to the huge deposits of silver ore and the development of silver coinage, the city has rapidly developed and turned into one of the political and commercial centers of medieval Bohemia. This allowed Kutná Hora to compete with Prague for the right to be the capital of the lands of the Czech crown. The wealth and flourishing of Kutna Hora in the 15th century led to the flourishing of construction and the creation of monumental works of the late Gothic era.
The excursion to the city of Kutná Hora begins with a visit to the Church of All Saints located on the outskirts of the city – a unique building, whose interiors are made of human bones and skulls. The tour continues with a visit to the Cathedral of St. Varvara – the second largest and most important Gothic cathedral in the Czech Republic. The Cathedral of St. Barbara was built in the late or Vladislav Gothic style. After a walk through the medieval streets of the city, you will visit the Vlašský yard – the former mint of the Czech kingdom, where you will get acquainted with the history of the Kutnohora coinage.
Excursion to the CZECH STERNBERK castle
Towering over the Sazava River, the Czech Šternberk castle is still a private property belonging to representatives of the noble family of princes Šternberk and is one of the best preserved castles in the Czech Republic.
The castle was founded in the 13th century by the ancestors of the modern Sternberks and was named after the heraldic sign of the family – a golden star (German: Stern – a star). In the XIV-XV centuries, the castle was a powerful Gothic fortress. Due to its strategic position on top of a cliff, the castle was considered impregnable in those days. The modern appearance of the Český Šternberk castle is the result of building changes that have taken place over several centuries. The last reconstructions affected the castle in the 17th century, at the same time many interiors were decorated in the Baroque style.
During the tour you will see the representative chambers of the castle, filled with the family collections of the Sternberks, of particular interest is the collection of engravings from the era of the Thirty Years’ War in Europe, which is considered one of the largest in Europe. Notable are also the Knight’s and Golden salons, whose ceilings are richly decorated with baroque paintings. The author of the paintings was the Italian painter Carl Brentan. Some rooms of the castle tell a lot of interesting things about the private life of the Sternberks in the castle, about significant personalities of this kind. A separate exposition is dedicated to the life of a prominent figure of the Czech National Revival – Prince Kašpar Sternberk.
Excursion to the MELNIK castle
The history of the city and the Melnik castle goes back centuries. Since the 9th century, Melnik served as the residence of the wives of Czech princes and kings. However, Melnik is famous primarily for the fact that it was in this castle that the history of Czech winemaking began more than 1000 years ago. According to legend, Prince Vaclav, the future saint and patron of the Czech lands, planted the first vine in Melnik and taught people how to make this noble drink.
The original wooden fortress Melnik from the 9th century was completely rebuilt in the 13th century. The castle also flourished during the reign of Charles IV, who made a great contribution to the development of Melnyk winemaking. The last queen to use Melnik as her residence was Jeanne of Rozmital, wife of the Czech King Jiri of Poděbrady. After her death, the owners of Melnik changed frequently. At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the castle was completely rebuilt in the Renaissance style. In the 18th century, the castle passed into the ownership of the Lobkovitsky family, and it remains in their possession to this day. The castle is the center of the wine industry and gives its name to the wine produced in the castle.
A tour of the castle includes a tour of the interior of the castle and the collections of baroque art presented there, as well as a visit to the gothic wine cellars of the castle. In Melnik wine cellars you will get acquainted with the history of winemaking in Melnik, and you will also be able to taste castle wines.
Excursion to the castle SYCHROV
One of the pearls of the picturesque North Bohemian region Bohemian Paradise is Sychrov Castle. The last owners of Sikhrov were representatives of the French family of princes Rogan, who belonged to the very top of the European nobility. Almost 150 years of the Rohans’ stay in Sychrov turned this castle into a corner of France on Czech soil.
Since the 17th century, on the site of the modern castle, there was a hunting castle built in the Baroque style, which was acquired in 1820 by the Rogans who emigrated from revolutionary France. In the middle of the 19th century, the castle was significantly expanded and rebuilt in the style of historical romanticism. Particular attention was paid to the design of the interior of the castle, which was decorated in the neo-Gothic style with a large number of wooden carvings. Work on the creation of the carved miracle of the Czech Republic lasted almost 40 years.
A tour of the castle includes a tour of a number of residential and ceremonial premises, of particular interest are the Staircase Hall, the Great Dining Room, as well as the royal apartments, whose ceilings and walls are richly decorated with wooden carvings. The pride of Sykhrov is his art collections and, above all, the richest collection of French portraiture of the 16th-19th centuries in Central Europe. The canvases depict representatives of the Rogan family, as well as members of the French royal dynasties. You will also see the private castle chapel, one of the main decorations of which is the 19th century organ.
Excursion to SOUTH BOHEMIA
South Bohemia is a historical Czech region famous for its cultural and natural attractions. The main decoration of South Bohemia is a necklace of ancient castles and medieval cities located in the valley of the Vltava River.
In the 11th-16th centuries, the ruler of the South Bohemian possessions was the powerful and glorious family of princes Rožmberk, whose main heraldic symbol was a red five-petal rose. This sign is still preserved in the symbolism of South Bohemia, which, in memory of glorious times, is often called the land of the nobles of the red rose. After the mysterious extinction of the Rozmberk family in the 17th century, representatives of the Schwarzenberg family, considered one of the richest aristocratic families in Europe, became the main owners of South Bohemia. The South Bohemian lands were in the hands of the Schwarzenbergs until the middle of the 19th century, when most of them were nationalized by the state.
Your journey will begin with a visit to one of the most beautiful and luxurious castles in the Czech Republic – Gluboka nad Vltava. This castle during the XVIII and XIX centuries was the main residence of the princes of Schwarzenberg, because of this, the richness of the decoration of the castle has no equal. Hluboka nad Vltavou acquired its modern look in the second half of the 19th century, when the last reconstruction of the castle in the style of romanticism took place. The interiors of the castle contain the richest collections of furniture, paintings of the 16th-19th centuries, porcelain and glass. The pride of the castle Hluboka nad Vltava is the collection of Flemish tapestries of the XVII-XVIII centuries.
After a tour of the castle Hluboka nad Vltavou, you will visit Cesky Krumlov, a fabulous medieval Renaissance town. An amazing combination of picturesque nature and ancient architecture has turned Cesky Krumlov into a charming nature reserve of the past. The important cultural significance of Český Krumlov has led to the inclusion of the city in the list of sites protected by UNESCO. In Český Krumlov you will have a city tour and free time to explore on your own.
ROMANTIC EVENING IN DETENICE CASTLE
A new and original tour involves visiting the baroque castle of Detenice at the most mysterious and romantic time of the day – in the evening.
Detenice Castle is one of the remarkable baroque castles. The first mention of the castle dates back to the 11th century, when an ancient Romanesque fortress was mentioned that stood in its place. The castle often changed its owners and passed from hand to hand. Among its owners was the famous Albrecht Wallenstein, a commander and politician of the era of the Thirty Years’ War in Europe. The castle is currently in private hands.
After a tour of the castle, you will have dinner and a performance in a unique medieval tavern by torchlight, surrounded by pirates and robbers.
BREWER KRUŠOVITSA
The Royal Brewery Krušovica is one of the oldest breweries in the Czech Republic. The date of the first mention of it is 1517. A certain Jiří Birka started brewing beer in the town of Rakovnik, but was soon forced to move along with his production to a remote place, because the beer fun that reigned at the factory disturbed the peace of honest townspeople. This is how the brewer Krušovica was born.
In 1581, Jiří Birka suggested to Emperor Rudolf II that the plant be purchased. Two years later, Rudolf II did just that, and he liked Krušovice beer so much that he personally made sure that raw materials were delivered on time and brewing did not stop.
The heyday of Pivovar Kruszowitz came at a time when he belonged to the Waldstein family. who purchased it in 1685 regularly filled it with equipment with the latest technology of the day. Throughout its long history, the Krusovica factory has kept special brewing recipes, combining old traditions with the latest technology.
During the tour you will see the brewhouse, the fermentation workshop, the workshop with bottling lines, and at the end of the tour you will find a generous tasting of freshly brewed beer!
MARIANSKIE LAZNE
Marianske Lazne is the second largest, but no less beautiful Czech resort. Due to the picturesque location in a mountainous hollow and an abundance of greenery, Marianske Lazne is often called the green pearl of the Czech Republic.
The city was founded in the medieval period, but the dynamics in its development came only in the 19th century, when Marianske Lazne acquired new buildings, transforming into an elegant and fashionable resort. The beauty of Marianske Lazne attracts and enchants people, its mineral waters heal people’s health. Many celebrities were admirers of Marianske Lazne. Seventy-year-old Goethe once experienced his last love here.
Staying in the city of Marianske Lazne always creates a mood of calm, harmony and happiness. They say that everyone who comes to Marianske Lazne will someday return there again.
KARLOVY VARY
Karlovy Vary is one of the most famous and beautiful spa towns in Europe. The glory of Karlovy Vary is primarily due to the springs with the healing power of thermal water. The beauty of the city is made up of a combination of elegant urban architecture and picturesque natural landscapes. All this together makes the city attractive for thousands of holidaymakers who annually visit this famous West Bohemian spa. Among many others, the German poet Wolfgang Goethe often visited Karlovy Vary, who once said about Karlovy Vary that this is the city where he would like to live and die.
According to legend, the first thermal spring in Karlovy Vary was discovered by chance while hunting by the Czech king Charles IV. It is known for sure that in the 14th century the city already existed and welcomed those who were thirsty to experience the healing power of Karlovy Vary mineral waters. The development of the city led to its heyday in the 18th-19th centuries, when Karlovy Vary became one of the centers of European resort life. One of the connoisseurs of Karlovy Vary was the Russian Tsar Peter I, who repeatedly visited Karlovy Vary. On the way, you will have the opportunity to visit an exhibition and sale of glass, porcelain and products made of gold and precious stones – the Kingdom of Looking Glass, as well as purchase products from the assortment.
During the trip, you will have an informative city tour, during which you will hear a lot of fascinating stories about healing springs, about celebrities who visited Karlovy Vary, about city houses. You will also see all the main Karlovy Vary colonnades – Geyser, Market and Mill. After the tour, you will have free time to explore the city on your own.
LEDNICK-VALTICK AREAL
Moravia is one of the historical Czech provinces, located in the southeast of the modern Czech state. Today Moravia is predominantly an agricultural region with a rich culture of agriculture, horticulture and viticulture. In addition to amazing nature and picturesque landscapes, Moravia is famous for its monuments of the past.
The excursion to Moravia will start with a visit to Lednice Castle, the center of the Valtice-Lednice cultural area protected by UNESCO. The first mention of Lednice dates back to the 13th century. From the beginning of the 14th century until the middle of the 20th century, the Lednice-Valtice possessions belonged to the most famous family of the princes of Liechtenstein. During these centuries, the Lednice castle often changed its appearance. The last reconstruction of the castle, carried out in the 19th century, turned Lednice, as is often said, into a romantic wonder of the Czech Republic.
The castle is located in an English natural park and its appearance resembles a medieval feudal dwelling. During the inspection of the interiors, you will see the front rooms, famous for their carved wooden cladding of walls and ceilings, as well as valuable parquets.
No less interesting attraction of Moravia are Moravian wines. The culture of Moravian winemaking has a rich history, which you will get acquainted with after visiting Lednice Castle, the wine cellars of the baroque Valtice Castle. In the ancient cellars, where castle wines were already ripening in the 17th century, you will not only get acquainted with the history of Czech winemaking, but also taste the best Moravian wines.
